San Rafael welcomes five new firefighters, begins six-week training course

Editor's note: This is the first of several stories as the IJ follows San Rafael rookie firefighters through their six-week training program.

IT WASN'T UNTIL after he embarked on a volunteer medical expedition to Uganda that Anthony Alviso realized he didn't want to spend the rest of his life working at a law firm or pursuing a career in construction. He discovered tending to people in need — outside of an office setting — was his true passion.

"Helping people opened my eyes," Alviso said. "Being a paramedic was kind of what first jumped out at me, then firefighting."

Alviso, 32, is one of five new recruits hired by the San Rafael Fire Department to serve as paramedics and firefighters. The new employees just finished their first week of a six-week training course and are eager to take their spots at one of the city's fire stations. Fire Chief Chris Gray, who has been with the city since 2007, said the new hires were selected from a group of more than 500 applicants, which was eventually whittled down to 75 people. He said the goal was to find recruits who are knowledgeable, positive and caring.

"They're all very much interested in helping people," Gray said. "You're really trying to find a public servant."

Recruits undergo a rigorous interview process. Before applying, they must pass an academy class and become a certified paramedic. Then they must take a written test, be interviewed by a panel of fire personnel, be interviewed by the chief and complete a handful of writing assignments. If all goes well, they are then subjected to a polygraph test, a psychiatric evaluation, a medical evaluation and physical and a thorough background check.

The new firefighters are hired at $66,924 a year and can earn as much as $99,432 a year after five years of service, before potentially moving up in rank.

Fire Capt. Andy Rogerson, a 17-year veteran of the department, said the hiring process for the new recruits began in October. While it may seem like there are lots of hoops to jump through, he said it's important the fire department hire the right representatives.

"These are people that are going to be coming into your house in your time of need and we need to make sure they are genuine," Rogerson said.

He and other fire department personnel are training the recruits on a multitude of topics, including fighting wildfires, dealing with structure fires and extricating people from vehicles.

"We teach them how we do things and also refresh them on other skills," Rogerson said. "They get a little bit of everything."

Alviso said he was ecstatic when he learned he was joining the fire department, especially after working hard and putting in long hours to make himself an ideal candidate.

"The journey for me to get this job was long," Alviso said. "I'm excited to learn more about the department and the community."

Alviso is from Burlingame, where his wife, 6-month-old son and parents live. He said his focus is to make a positive impact on other people's lives.

Jimmy Alvarez, 27, said he never thought about being a firefighter until one fateful day when he and his father saw an overturned car on the side of a highway. The pair stopped and Alvarez rescued the woman from her vehicle.

"It kind of sparked from there," Alvarez said.

The married Dixon resident said he's encouraged by how family-oriented the fire department is. He said he'd love to someday teach at a fire academy, but is focused at this point on being a proficient firefighter and using his Spanish skills to connect with certain parts of the community.

"It's a jack-of-all-trades job," Alvarez said.

Richard Rojo, 30, said he too is thrilled to be in a department that is family-oriented and focused on building meaningful relationships. The Yuba City native and his wife are expecting their first child in July, making this a special time in his life.

Rojo said he graduated from college with a degree in economics, but realized he didn't want to be cooped up in an office all day. He started talking to some friends who worked with Cal Fire and his interest in firefighting ignited.

He said his goal is to get through the training successfully, learn each aspect of the job and move up through the ranks. He said he's honored to be a firefighter.

"This job really makes you appreciate life," Rojo said.

Roseville native Melissa Millspaugh, 24, has aspired to be a firefighter since she was in high school. Her ultimate goal is to be a fire captain on an engine, but she's excited to be undergoing training.

"I like it because of the hard work and camaraderie that develops," Millspaugh said. "It takes mental and physical strength. You can put your whole body, your whole soul into your work."

As the only female firefighter with the department, Millspaugh will be bunking in the same room and sharing a bathroom with her male colleagues. While potentially uncomfortable for some, Millspaugh said it's nothing she's concerned about.

Scott Preckwinkle, 26, said he knows how difficult it is to establish a firefighting career, so when he heard he'd been hired he was both shocked and grateful. He said he's honored and lucky to be serving the city.

"I know it's a tight community here and they put a lot of faith in us. I don't want to let them down," Preckwinkle said.

The Sonoma native started as an emergency medical technician with an interest in being a physician's assistant. That soon changed and now he hopes to put his leadership skills on display as a firefighter.

"I want to move up in the ranks when I'm ready," Preckwinkle said.

The recruits are scheduled to graduate from their six-week training course May 25.

Rogerson said that after that they'll ride along as a third person on an ambulance team before being assigned to one of the fire stations and turned loose.